June 25, 2010
Juneteenth draws parishioners, soup kitchen clients, health care providers
Dawnelle Neighbors awaits visitors to her booth at St. John the Apostle, to discuss breast health and cancer awareness. (Message photo by Paul R. Leingang) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
About 200 people took part in the Juneteenth kickoff celebration at the facilities of St. John the Apostle Church in Evansville, on June 13.
“It was well attended and I think it went well,” said Bless-ed Sacrament Sister Jane Nesmith, pastoral life coordinator of the parish. “It was a great opportunity for the Sunday afternoon soup kitchen people to interact with the larger community.”
St. John has the only Sunday afternoon soup kitchen in the area, serving an average of 150 people each Sunday.
On June 13, eighteen vendors offered various health related services to parishioners and visitors. Gina Moore sang “We Are Family” to emphasize “that we are all part of the family,” Sister Jane said.
Rev. Dr. Matory Bailey, an EVSC principal and the pastor of Little Valley Missionary Baptist Church in Evansville, spoke about “how remembering history helps us to move forward with a deeper sense of gratitude,” according to Sister Jane.
Private health matters were not revealed, but Sister Jane said there “a couple of crucial things related to blood pressure and to diabetes” discovered by several of the people who stopped at the various health booths.
Juneteenth is also known as “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day,” according to Wikipedia. It commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the United States, and is celebrated on June 19.